Posted on 10/25/2005 10:42:02 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A state contractor and a top aide to imprisoned former Gov. John G. Rowland each pleaded guilty to two felonies Tuesday, ending a public corruption case that led to the one-time political star's downfall.
Contractor William Tomasso and Peter Ellef, who was Rowland's co-chief of staff, pleaded guilty under a plea deal to conspiracy to commit tax fraud and bribery.
Prosecutors said the men ran a criminal enterprise out of the governor's office, with Ellef steering multimillion dollar contracts to Tomasso in exchange for gold, cash, travel and gifts. Each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when sentenced Jan. 13.
"The fairness, openness and integrity of the process in Connecticut was compromised," U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy said.
The deal, reached one week before jury selection in their racketeering case was to begin, heads off a trial that was anticipated to last for months. Prosecutors had planned a parade of witnesses expected to testify about an underbelly of the Rowland administration, from tales of buried gold to expensive limo trips.
As part of the deal, the men are expected to pay the state a total of $1 million in restitution. Ellef said in court that charges also will be dropped against his son, Peter Ellef II. Prosecutors said Tomasso used the younger Ellef's landscaping business as a way to funnel money to his father.
Rowland, 48, is serving a year-and-a-day federal sentence after pleading guilty to a corruption charge. Once one of Connecticut's most popular political figures and a rising star in the Republican party, he resigned in July 2004 after nine years in office.
"The only good thing in all of this is that it's over," said Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who was elevated to the governor's office following Rowland's resignation.
No party mentioned.
Republican
Thanks for the post on this REPUBLICAN SCUMBAG and his criminal friends. A slap on the wrist is too light for this worthless POS.
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